SSAT Reading Comprehension Sample Test 1

SSAT Reading Comprehension Sample Test 1

 

Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For each question, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers the question. You have 40 minutes to complete the test.

[timer duration="40:00"]

[start-test type=8]

[start-block]

entrepreneurial healer

Questions 1-5

The train pulled into station at 8:05 precisely, just as the schedule demanded, and the remarkable Dr. Twill bustled off onto the platform with a crowd of other travelers. He was tired from his journey, but eager and excited to see the lights of the city again. He stretched and yawned, and decided to find a hot cup of coffee before heading out to enjoy the bright city night.

His trip through the surrounding country towns had been a profitable endeavor: with a few vague explanations here, some simple demonstrations there, and a great deal of enthusiasm everywhere he went, he had been able to sell a number of his electrical cures at prices which were more than modestly profitable, and returned with a considerably lighter trunk and fatter wallet than those with which he had departed. The cures were many and varied, ranging from electrical hairbrushes which promised to cure baldness and restore a youthful appearance, to electrical belts which were guaranteed to resolve indigestion, incontinence, or indeed any ailment of the gut, even to electrical shoes, the function of which was as yet unclear but undoubtedly wonderful.

He had even been able to secure some rather generous investments in the development of his latest cure: a tonic of pure electrical energy, which when imbibed would most assuredly improve the whole health and well-being of the imbiber, invigorating flesh and mind from within! There remained the minor question of how he would manage to liquefy pure electricity—but the buzzing of the street lights never failed to inspire, and Dr. Twill had all confidence that a solution would come soon enough.

[question text="It can be inferred from the passage that Dr. Twill makes a living by " answers="researching a great variety of diseases#*selling devices which are supposed to cure disease#bottling electricity, and selling it in the country#inventing devices and selling the patents to rich investors#travelling to the city to see patients under electric lights "]

[question text="Dr. Twill seems to believe that electricity is " answers="an unfortunate necessity of the modern world#a dangerous technology which must be carefully handled#*a curative force of incredible potential#one tool among many in a doctor’s arsenal against disease#a limited but practical method for reliving certain types of pain "] 

[question text="Based on the context of the passage, Dr. Twill was traveling in order to " answers="get away from the hustle and bustle of city life#*make a profit by selling his wares in other towns#find inspiration for new inventions#cure the ailments of people too poor to visit a doctor#acquire new electrical devices for the curing of disease "] 

[question text="According to the passage, what is the most likely reason that Dr. Twill returned from his travels with a “considerably lighter trunk” (lines9-10)? " answers="The weather was warmer than when he left, so he needed less clothing.#*Dr. Twill sold most of the contents of his trunk while traveling.#Dr. Twill had used up most of the bottled electricity in his trunk.#Parts of the trunk had fallen off during the trip.#Dr. Twill had purchased a new, lighter trunk with his profits. "]

[question text="Based on the context of the passage, “imbibe” (line 16) most nearly means " answers="electrocute#invest#travel#*consume#disease "] 

[end-block]

[start-block]

the great library of alexandria

Questions 6-9

The Great Library of Alexandria was a marvel of ancient Egypt. Established during the Hellenistic period, sometime between 324 and 246 BCE, the Library was reputedly an architectural wonder. More importantly, the Library housed a vast collection of works from all across the ancient world and was a major center of scholarship. The Library was charged with the ambitious mission of collecting all of the world’s books, and employed numerous methods to acquire new works. A well-funded acquisitions department scoured the book fairs of Rhodes and Athens, purchasing individual texts or even whole libraries. Ships that landed at the harbor of Alexandria were searched for books to add to the Library’s collection. The Library also employed a number of scholars who produced original works on subjects such as astronomy, mathematics, and physics.

In addition to collecting books and conducting research, the scribes and scholars of the Great Library translated texts from around the world into Greek and assembled authoritative versions from different translations. Some of the first translations of Biblical texts into Greek may have occurred at the Library in the time of Ptolemy I, although the Canonical versions would not be created for some hundreds of years more. Much work was done to compile and edit authoritative versions of the Homeric myths for which the Greeks are so well known today, and these were only a few of the great works of translation and editing that took place in Alexandria in the Hellenistic period.

It is ironic that the fate of the Great Library—an institution dedicated to the collection and preservation of knowledge—is shrouded in myth and mystery. Many sources say the Library burned down, but the date is uncertain. It may have burned down more than once, either by accident, or intentionally. Smaller sister institutions may have survived the original library, to be destroyed later. The Great Library, or some version of it, could have survived for anywhere from 300 to 1,000 years. However it ended, there can be little doubt that the scholarship of The Great Library had a great and lasting impact on history, and the works that were kept, translated, or created there have had a profound influence on our culture even to the present day. 

 

[question text="The author’s main purpose in this passage is to " answers="compare and contrast different theories about the Great Library’s destruction#*describe the activities of an important historical institution#chronicle the role of libraries throughout history#discuss the literature of two ancient civilizations#explain the impact of the Great Library on Egypt’s political history "] 

[question text="It can be inferred from the passage that " answers="*some of the works created or edited in the Great Library survive to the present day#the Great Library was most likely founded by Ptolemy I#the Great Library was mainly funded by the sale of books#the scribes that lived in the Great Library were not allowed outside of Alexandria#most of Greece’s famous myths were originally created at the Great Library "]

[question text="According to the passage, which of the following is/are known for certain to be true?  I) The Great Library survived for 1,000 years.  II) The Great Library was located in the city of Alexandria.  III) The Great Library burned down on more than one occasion. " answers="I only#*II only#III only#I and II only#I, II and III "]

[question text="The author of this passage would most likely agree that " answers="it was wrong for the Great Library to take books from passing ships#whoever destroyed the Great Library was most likely motivated by greed#the ultimate fate of the Great Library should always remain a mystery#it is very surprising that ancient people were concerned about preserving books#*the preservation and advancement of knowledge is very important "] 

[end-block]

[start-block]

confusing botany

Questions 10-13
 

Many of the things which we think of as vegetables are, in strict botanical terms, actually fruits. Most of us know that the tomato, for example, is technically a fruit—and when we commit the grave error of referring to a tomato as a vegetable, there’s often some wise soul nearby who is willing to correct us. But did you know that the pumpkin is also a botanical fruit? The same goes for cucumbers, squash, and even corn— because, in botanical terms, a fruit is “any edible part of a plant derived from its ovary.” An admirably clear definition, as one might well expect from the scientific community!

And yet, that hasn’t done much to change which foods we the public think of as fruits, and which ones as vegetables. To complicate matters further, a body no less august than the U.S. Supreme Court itself once had to rule on whether tomatoes counted as vegetables, and they bucked the scientific definition as well. According to the Supreme Court, a vegetable is any part of a plant which is generally served with the main part of the meal, whereas a fruit is a plant which would generally be eaten with or as a desert— although as far as I know, they took no position on appetizers. 

[question text="The author’s primary topic in this passage is " answers="the scientific definitions of fruits and vegetables#the Supreme Court’s decision that the tomato is a vegetable#the biological structure of tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash#the conflicts over botanical classifications within the scientific community#*the controversy over popular conceptions of fruits and vegetables "]

[question text="Based on the passage, the author would most likely agree with which of the following statements? " answers="The goals of scientists are at odds with the public’s health.#It doesn’t matter what you call them, as long as you eat plenty of healthy plants.#*Scientists often create definitions that are not useful to the general public.#The Supreme Court lacks the authority to define botanical terms.#Tomatoes are best served as an appetizer. "]

[question text="As it is used in line 9, the word “august” most likely means " answers="*respected and important#botanical#the month which follows July#light-humored and funny#very angry "] 

[question text="When the author says that it is a “grave error” to call a tomato a vegetable (line 3), his tone could best be described as " answers="sympathetic#aloof#emphatic#*sarcastic#wrathful "]

[end-block]

[start-block]

Find Dr. Livingstone

Questions 14-18

At 3 P.M. I was on my way, and being obliged to stop at Bayonne a few hours, did not arrive at Paris until the following night. I went straight to the Grand Hotel, and knocked at the door of Mr. Bennett's room.

"Come in," I heard a voice say. Entering, I found Mr. Bennett in bed. "Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Stanley," I answered.
"Ah, yes! Sit down; I have important business on hand for you."
After throwing over his shoulders his robe-de-chambre Mr. Bennett asked, "Where do you think Livingstone is?"
"I really do not know, sir."
"Do you think he is alive?"
"He may be, and he may not be," I answered.
"Well, I think he is alive, and that he can be found, and I am going to send you to find him." "What!" said I, "do you really think I can find Dr. Livingstone? Do you mean me to go to Central Africa?"
"Yes; I mean that you shall go, and find him wherever you may hear that he is, and to get what news you can of him, and perhaps"—delivering himself thoughtfully and deliberately— "the old man may be in want:—take enough with you to help him should he require it. Of course you will act according to your own plans, and do what you think best—but find Livingstone!" 

[question text="The narrator of this passage is " answers="Mr. Bennet#Dr. Livingstone#Bayonne#*Stanley#Bayonne "] 

[question text="According to the passage, Dr. Livingstone is " answers="a medical doctor#studying plants in central Africa#an infamous criminal on the run#*old and possibly dead#staying in a hotel in France "]

[question text="Based on the context of the passage, a “robe-de-chambre” (line 8) is most likely " answers="a type of bed#a particular hotel in France#*a type of casual garment#a coat to be worn outdoors#a formal hat worn for important occasions "]

[question text="In lines 16-19, Mr. Bennet’s tone could best be described as " answers="*urgent#whining#relaxed#rash#deferential "]

[question text="According to the passage, it is likely that the narrator will soon " answers="*travel to Central Africa#write a memorial for Dr. Livingstone#travel to Bayonne#search for Dr. Livingstone in Paris#write a business report "]

[end-block]

[start-block]

The origin of life

Questions 19-22

How could life possibly have gotten started on Earth? Few questions have puzzled so many for so long as this. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed: maybe the first organic molecules formed in the deep ocean, from chemicals spewed out by volcanic vents. Maybe the earliest life was actually made of simple molecules, and created the complex molecules used by living organisms today. Maybe life came to Earth from outer space. But in 1952, in a laboratory in Chicago, one hypothesis was about to be put to the test.

Alexander Oparin and J.B.S. Haldane had proposed that conditions on the early Earth favored chemical reactions which could produce organic compounds—the building blocks of life— from inorganic precursors. At the University of Chicago, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey had devised an experiment to test the idea.

The team filled a network of glass flasks and tubes with water, to simulate the early ocean, and with the same gases believed to be present in the early atmosphere. They applied heat, causing some of the water to evaporate and begin to circulate through the tubes as vapor. They then created electrical sparks inside the apparatus to simulate lightning. As the experiment proceeded, the mixture began to change color. After a few days, when the contents were analyzed, the scientists found what they were looking for: the very same organic compounds that are the building blocks of all life on Earth. The Miller-Urey experiment supported the hypothesis that conditions on the early Earth could generate the necessary components of life, and went down in history as one of the great experiments of the 20th century. 

[question text="The passage is primarily about " answers="the types of equipment required to make life in the lab#the amazing insights of Alexander Oparin and J.B.S. Haldane#weather and environmental conditions on the early Earth#the many possible locations where life may have begun on Earth#*a hypothesis and the experiment designed to test it "]

[question text="Which significant event took place in 1952?" answers="*Organic compounds were created in laboratory conditions that simulated Earth’s early environment.#The first living organisms were created by the Miller-Urey experiment.#J.B.S. Haldane and Alexander Oparin proposed a new theory about the origins of life on Earth.#The University of Chicago was founded, leading to many great experiments.#The theory that life came from space was finally disproved. "]

[question text="At the beginning of the Miller-Urey experiment, scientists filled glass flasks with which of the following?  I) gases   II) water   III) soil " answers="I only#II only#*I and II only#II and III only#I, II, and III "]

[question text="According to the passage, what role did Alexandar Oparin play in the Miller-Urey experiment? " answers="He helped to analyze the results of the experiment.#*He was one of the scientists who proposed the idea that the experiment was designed to test.#He was in charge of the foundation that organized and funded the experiment.#He was a faculty member at the University of Chicago, where the experiment took place.#He attempted to stop the experiment, which could have disproved his hypothesis."] 

[end-block]

[start-block]

essential quality

Questions 23-27

Many people have asked me what, all things considered, is the most valuable quality a wilderness traveler can possess. Always I have replied unhesitatingly; for no matter how useful or desirable such attributes as patience, courage, strength, endurance, good nature, and ingenuity may prove to be, undoubtedly a person with them, but without the sense of direction, is practically helpless in the wilds.

A sense of direction, therefore, I should name as the prime requisite for those who would become true foresters, depending on themselves rather than on guides. The faculty is largely developed, of course, by much practice; but it must be inborn. Some people possess it; others do not—just as some people have a mathematical bent while to others figures are always a despair. It is a sort of extra, having nothing to do with criterions of intelligence or mental development, like the repeater movement in a watch. A highly educated or cultured person may lack it; the roughest possess it. Some who have never been in the woods or mountains acquire in the space of a vacation a fair facility at picking a way; and I have met a few who have spent their lives on the prospect trail, and who were still, and always would be, as helpless as the newest city dweller. It is a gift, a talent. If you have its germ, you can become a traveler of the wide and lonely places. If you have it not, you may as well resign yourself to guides. 

[question text="Which of the following best summarizes the author’s main argument in this passage? " answers="If you don’t have a good sense of direction, you’ll be lost in either the city or the wilderness.#Most city dwellers quickly learn to find their way in the wilderness when they get the chance to practice.#Only the roughest people can develop a good sense of direction, and highly cultured people are better off hiring guides.#*A sense of direction is an essential talent in the wilderness, and it’s something that not everyone can learn.#A sense of direction can be cultivated, but only in the wilderness, where it is transmitted by a germ. "]

[question text="Based on the passage, the author believes that courage, strength, and ingenuity " answers="*are useful attributes, but not as essential to a wilderness traveler as a sense of direction#are not at all relevant to a wilderness traveler#might be necessary in order to develop a strong sense of direction#can’t be acquired unless they come naturally#are usually lacking in people with a good sense of direction"] 

[question text="According to the passage, people who have never been in the wilderness " answers="can acquire a sense of direction only if they are on vacation#are likely to be hopeless at finding their way for the rest of their lives#should probably hire a guide#are frequently better at finding their way than more seasoned travelers#*can sometimes develop a good sense of direction in a fairly short time "] 

[question text="In the passage, the author compares a sense of direction to " answers="*a talent for mathematics#a disease spread by germs#the virtue of bravery#the strength and endurance developed by exercise#the skill of an experienced prospector "] 

[question text="The author’s main purpose in this passage is to " answers="criticize people who get lost because they lack a sense of direction#persuade the reader that ingenuity, courage, and endurance are overrated#argue that more people should hire guides when they go into the wilderness#*inform the reader about what is needed to succeed in the wilderness#encourage more people to take wilderness vacations "]

[end-block]

[start-block]

Quote from Thomas Carew

Questions 28-31

 

He that loves a rosy cheek

Or a coral lip admires,

Or from starlike eyes doth seek

Fuel to maintain his fires;

As old Time makes these decay,

So his flames must waste away.

 

But a smooth and steadfast mind,

Gentle thoughts, and calm desires,

Hearts with equal love combined,

Kindle never-dying fires:—

Where these are not, I despise

Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes. 

[question text="Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this poem? " answers="If you get to know them, you will often find that beautiful people have unpleasant personalities.#People who have a calm and gentle disposition are usually physically beautiful.#*Physical beauty is temporary, but inner qualities can be more permanently attractive.#It’s better to dislike beautiful people until they prove that they also have pleasant personalities.#If you are beautiful on the inside, then your physical beauty will also last longer. "] 

[question text="When the speaker refers to “oldTime” in lines 5-6, he is " answers="talking about the past#having a conversation with time#referring to the specific time in a person’s life when they are old#talking about old-fashioned things#*suggesting that time is an old, powerful entity "] 

[question text="When the speaker discusses “never-dying fires” (line 10), he is most likely referring to " answers="*long-lasting love#love that diminishes quickly#physical beauty#anger and hatred#lips and cheeks "]

[question text="When the speaker states that “flames must waste away” (line 6), he most nearly means that " answers="in time, even the subject of the poem will die#love always fades when people get older#it is impossible to maintain a fire without logs for kindling#*if love is based on physical beauty, it will diminish when beauty fades#some people will never be satisfied for very long "]

[end-block]

[start-block]

common problem

Questions 32-35
 

A new report says nearly four billion people – more than half the world’s population – have major tooth decay. Health officials warn that poor oral health can lead to social and psychological problems. Tooth decay, or cavities in permanent teeth, is also known as carries. Professor Wagner Marcenes led of team of researchers as part of the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study, which listed carries as the most common of all 291 major diseases and injuries.

“Carries is a chronic disease that shares the same risk factors as cancer and cardiovascular disease. What we’re seeing now is an increase in disease from highly developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and probably in other areas of Africa, too,” he said. “Carries tends to get less attention than other diseases. For example, HIV is a much more pressing issue for the health of the population.”

Marcenes said that tooth decay is rising sharply in Africa because developing countries are becoming more like Western nations in some ways. “Carries is likely to be related to a change in diet. Our industrialized diet leads to chronic disease, which includes carries.” 

[question text="According to the passage, carries is " answers="a type of cancer#a disease related to HIV#cardiovascular disease#*a disease of the teeth#easily cured with dietary changes "]

[question text="According to the passage, carriesis increasing in Africa due to " answers="the spread of industry#increasing poverty#high rates of HIV and other diseases#higher rates of social and psychological problems#*changes in the way that people eat "]

[question text="According to the passage, the number of people who suffer from carries is " answers="*a majority of the population of the planet#greater in sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world#concentrated in the West#around four million people#smaller than the number of people suffering from HIV "]

[question text="This passage would most likely be found in " answers="*a newspaper#a novel#a personal letter#a biography#an encyclopedia "]

[end-block]

[start-block]

apology by plato

Questions 36-40

And now, O men who have condemned me, I would fain prophesy to you; for I am about to die, and in the hour of death men are gifted with prophetic power. And I prophesy to you who are my murderers that immediately after my departure punishment far heavier than you have inflicted on me will surely await you. Me you have killed because you wanted to escape the accuser, and not to give an account of your lives. But that will not be as you suppose: far otherwise. For I say that there will be more accusers of you than there are now; accusers whom hitherto I have restrained: and as they are younger they will be more inconsiderate with you, and you will be more offended at them. If you think that by killing men you can prevent someone from censuring your evil lives, you are mistaken; that is not a way of escape which is either possible or honorable; the easiest and the noblest way is not to disable others, but to improve yourselves. This is the prophecy which I utter before my departure to the judges who have condemned me. 

[question text="It can be inferred from the passage that the speaker " answers="has committed a very serious crime#is in command of a massive army#has lived his life as a fortune-teller#*has been sentenced to death#believes that it is honorable to die "]

[question text="According to the passage, the speaker believes that he has been condemned because " answers="*he was critical of the way that many people were living#his enemies were afraid that he would kill them#he lived an evil life, and failed to improve himself#he was young and inconsiderate#he did too much to restrain the critics of his enemies "]

[question text="The speaker says that the “accusers” (line 6) who will come after him " answers="will avenge his death#will have the power to make prophecies#*will be numerous and less polite than he was#have been improving themselves#have been living evil lives "]

[question text="When the speaker says “punishmentfar heavier than you have inflicted on me will surely await you” (lines3-4), he most likely means that " answers="his supporters will set him free#the people he is addressing will miss their last chance to be good instead of evil#there will be a great war following his death#the people he is addressing will become ill#*the people he is addressing will face far harsher criticism in the future than they did in the past "]

[question text="Which sentence best summarizes the speaker’s main point in this passage? " answers="Evil people will never be able to change.#*The best way to avoid criticism is to live a good life.#Young people are often less considerate than their elders.#Threats of punishment will keep people quiet.#People who are close to death possess magical powers. "]

[end-block]

[end-test]

 

STOP

IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED,
YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY. DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION IN THE TEST.